[ EDITORIAL ]

Affordable Care Act: Websites Provide Popularity

Published: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 12:27 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 12:27 a.m.

The intense interest that has jammed websites for federal and state health-insurance marketplaces is a cause for both optimism and concern among supporters of the Affordable Care Act.

Optimism is warranted, given the millions of Americans who have sought information about policies offered under Obamacare, which demonstrates a high degree of public interest in access to affordable health care insurance.

But the concern is that, if the overloading of websites and phone lines continues, frustrated customers will give up trying to explore eligibility or enroll, and that support for the program will further erode.

The public's rush for information confirms the overwhelming need for health-care coverage among uninsured and underinsured people. Now federal officials, and officials in states that set up their own health-insurance websites, must ensure that the government-sponsored program is capable of accommodating that need.

Pam Zoutte of Parrish, who was unsuccessful one week ago in several attempts to access the www.healthcare.gov, aptly summed up the situation.

As Zoutte told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "For something the American people do not want, it sure is busy."

6.1 MILLION VISITORS

Zoutte was referring to U.S. House Republicans' argument to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act — efforts that have forced a shutdown of the federal government.

Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., called the Affordable Care Act "the most insidious law known to man."

However, 190,000 help-line phone calls came in during the first 24 hours.

Strong interest — and similar technical problems — occurred on opening Tuesday on websites run by 16 states and the District of Columbia that built their own insurance marketplaces. The 34 other states, including Florida, deferred to the federal website.

No doubt to the chagrin of the law's opponents, several health-care experts suggest that media focus on the government shutdown contributed to the Web traffic jam.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services took steps to clear up the jam, adding computer servers and seeking to streamline a process swamped by the high demand. News reports said state-run sites have taken similar action.

Some computer and insurance-industry experts said the systems' problems could be technical as well as a result of high demand.

The problems also point out the sheer complexity of the effort. The HHS and state online systems, built and maintained by various contractors, have to link with each other as well as private insurers' systems. Other federal agencies, accessed to confirm the applicants' identities and income levels, are also involved.

MEDICAID FACTOR

Assuming the logjams are cleared, HHS anticipates that 7 million uninsured and underinsured Americans will obtain affordable, private policies in 2014 through insurers competing in the online marketplaces.

Millions more will be insured through Medicaid in states that have agreed to expand eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, Florida is among the 26 states that have rejected Medicaid expansion and billions of dollars to fund it under Obamacare.

That means that millions of the working poor — and estimated 1 million in Florida alone — will remain uninsured: locked out of Medicaid and ineligible for Affordable Care Act subsidies. That is shameful. The Florida Legislature should act to expand Medicaid as soon as possible.

Floridians who are eligible for Obamacare-inspired policies and federal subsidies should not be discouraged by initial problems. People have until Dec. 15 to sign up for coverage that will start Jan. 1.

March 31 is the deadline for eligible citizens to enroll for 2014 and avoid a tax penalty. The penalty will be the greater of 1 percent of taxable income or $95 for an individual. The maximum for a family: $285.

Those fines, which will rise in ensuing years, are roughly equal to the cost — including subsidies — of some of the policies offered under Obamacare.

The rollout of Affordable Care Act enrollment has highlighted the demand by millions of Americans for affordable health insurance.

Whether the system established under the act is able to meet that need remains in question.

<p>The intense interest that has jammed websites for federal and state health-insurance marketplaces is a cause for both optimism and concern among supporters of the Affordable Care Act.</p><p>Optimism is warranted, given the millions of Americans who have sought information about policies offered under Obamacare, which demonstrates a high degree of public interest in access to affordable health care insurance.</p><p>But the concern is that, if the overloading of websites and phone lines continues, frustrated customers will give up trying to explore eligibility or enroll, and that support for the program will further erode.</p><p>The public's rush for information confirms the overwhelming need for health-care coverage among uninsured and underinsured people. Now federal officials, and officials in states that set up their own health-insurance websites, must ensure that the government-sponsored program is capable of accommodating that need.</p><p>Pam Zoutte of Parrish, who was unsuccessful one week ago in several attempts to access the www.healthcare.gov, aptly summed up the situation.</p><p>As Zoutte told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "For something the American people do not want, it sure is busy."</p><p>6.1 MILLION VISITORS</p><p>Zoutte was referring to U.S. House Republicans' argument to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act — efforts that have forced a shutdown of the federal government.</p><p>Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., called the Affordable Care Act "the most insidious law known to man."</p><p>However, 190,000 help-line phone calls came in during the first 24 hours.</p><p>Strong interest — and similar technical problems — occurred on opening Tuesday on websites run by 16 states and the District of Columbia that built their own insurance marketplaces. The 34 other states, including Florida, deferred to the federal website.</p><p>No doubt to the chagrin of the law's opponents, several health-care experts suggest that media focus on the government shutdown contributed to the Web traffic jam.</p><p>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services took steps to clear up the jam, adding computer servers and seeking to streamline a process swamped by the high demand. News reports said state-run sites have taken similar action.</p><p>Some computer and insurance-industry experts said the systems' problems could be technical as well as a result of high demand.</p><p>The problems also point out the sheer complexity of the effort. The HHS and state online systems, built and maintained by various contractors, have to link with each other as well as private insurers' systems. Other federal agencies, accessed to confirm the applicants' identities and income levels, are also involved.</p><p>MEDICAID FACTOR</p><p>Assuming the logjams are cleared, HHS anticipates that 7 million uninsured and underinsured Americans will obtain affordable, private policies in 2014 through insurers competing in the online marketplaces.</p><p>Millions more will be insured through Medicaid in states that have agreed to expand eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, Florida is among the 26 states that have rejected Medicaid expansion and billions of dollars to fund it under Obamacare.</p><p>That means that millions of the working poor — and estimated 1 million in Florida alone — will remain uninsured: locked out of Medicaid and ineligible for Affordable Care Act subsidies. That is shameful. The Florida Legislature should act to expand Medicaid as soon as possible.</p><p>Floridians who are eligible for Obamacare-inspired policies and federal subsidies should not be discouraged by initial problems. People have until Dec. 15 to sign up for coverage that will start Jan. 1.</p><p>March 31 is the deadline for eligible citizens to enroll for 2014 and avoid a tax penalty. The penalty will be the greater of 1 percent of taxable income or $95 for an individual. The maximum for a family: $285.</p><p>Those fines, which will rise in ensuing years, are roughly equal to the cost — including subsidies — of some of the policies offered under Obamacare.</p><p>The rollout of Affordable Care Act enrollment has highlighted the demand by millions of Americans for affordable health insurance.</p><p>Whether the system established under the act is able to meet that need remains in question.</p>